Hatteras Field Patrol Stranding Response

1. How will I know when we should patrol?

Frank will send an email.

Water temps have been below 50F for 3 days and the wind is blowing to the shore.

Both A and B.

2. Do you remember your https://www.seaturtle.org/strand/ sign in information? (go sign in and make sure you still remember the ID and password)

What's seaturtle.org/strand? (if you check this box, you probably need to come to Stranding 101 training again)

Yes! I just logged in, we're good to go.

This question isn't graded but don't forget to make sure you can still login to seaturtle.org and go to the STRAND database.

Explanation

This question isn't graded but don't forget to make sure you can still login to seaturtle.org and go to the STRAND database.

3. T/F - All stranded turtles need a paper Stranding Report completed and submitted to WRC within 24 hours of response to comply with the conditions of our permit.

True

False

WRC needs stranding report information typically within 24 hours of a response. Under certain conditions and situations, it may take longer. A quick email to [email protected] simply stating that a report is forthcoming will help to make sure WRC keeps up with their reporting requirements.

Explanation

WRC needs stranding report information typically within 24 hours of a response. Under certain conditions and situations, it may take longer. A quick email to [email protected] simply stating that a report is forthcoming will help to make sure WRC keeps up with their reporting requirements.

4. Cold Stun staging site volunteers will upload your forms into SeaTurtle.org when the staging site is

"On-Call" (no one onsite but a transporter is on their way to pick up the turtle).

On "Alert" (no one is onsite but the site might be activated if things pick up).

"Active" and staffed with volunteers.

Volunteers will be around to help enter stranding reports (they can help with dead ones too if you give them the reports) when the site is "Active" only. The site is activated when we expect 3-5 turtles for the entire day. When the site is "On-Call" volunteers may come to the staging site to pick up turtles but they are trying to get the turtles up to STAR as quickly as possible so they have been instructed to pick up the turtle with the copy of the stranding report and run. This year we will put a sign on the door so that you know the "status" of the site.

Explanation

Volunteers will be around to help enter stranding reports (they can help with dead ones too if you give them the reports) when the site is "Active" only. The site is activated when we expect 3-5 turtles for the entire day. When the site is "On-Call" volunteers may come to the staging site to pick up turtles but they are trying to get the turtles up to STAR as quickly as possible so they have been instructed to pick up the turtle with the copy of the stranding report and run. This year we will put a sign on the door so that you know the "status" of the site.

5. Which of the following Island/Beach under STRANDING LOCATION should NOT be used by cold stun patrols?

Hatteras Island

Ocracoke Island

Pamilico Sound Floating or Dredge Island

For shoreline (and near shore) patrols, the location should only be Hatteras Island (or Ocracoke if it came from there). Pamilico Sound Floating is for turtles offshore, more likely in nets or on dredge islands.

Explanation

For shoreline (and near shore) patrols, the location should only be Hatteras Island (or Ocracoke if it came from there). Pamilico Sound Floating is for turtles offshore, more likely in nets or on dredge islands.

6. When transporting cold stun turtles, the heat in the car should be on as high as possible to help it warm up.

True

False

Cold Stun turtles should not be heated too quickly. You should travel with no heat on so wear layers!

Explanation

Cold Stun turtles should not be heated too quickly. You should travel with no heat on so wear layers!

7. A good way to record dead turtles during patrol is to take a photo in the field with a photoboard containing the basic info (Date, location, curved lengths, turtle by day #), painting the date on their shell, and then completing the actual stranding reports by looking at the photos back at home or the staging site after taking care of any live turtles.

True

False

All turtles, both live and dead, really need to be recorded for a complete understanding of these events. It should also help your future patrols as the turtles will be marked. If conditions occur where there are more than say 4 live turtles on your route, you could reduce the 'dead' effort to date, general location (i.e. the name of your 'route'), and turtle by day #. That way, you just have to update the turtle #, take a photo, paint it (maybe with date, and turtle #, ex. 1/5 #4) and move on. We could then send other volunteers in the field to get measurements and locations the next day.

Explanation

All turtles, both live and dead, really need to be recorded for a complete understanding of these events. It should also help your future patrols as the turtles will be marked. If conditions occur where there are more than say 4 live turtles on your route, you could reduce the 'dead' effort to date, general location (i.e. the name of your 'route'), and turtle by day #. That way, you just have to update the turtle #, take a photo, paint it (maybe with date, and turtle #, ex. 1/5 #4) and move on. We could then send other volunteers in the field to get measurements and locations the next day.

8. If you have trouble uploading a scanned paper Stranding Report or photo onto SeaTurtle.org, you can submit them to WRC by:

A. Scanning and emailing a copy to [email protected]

B. Sending the report and photo through snail mail to Sarah Finn.

C. Calling KC (252-305-5057) to help talk you through uploading.

D. Any of the above.

When in doubt, just email a photo and the stranding report. (Check the box for No Photos but in the comments section, state you will email them to Sarah.) And always feel free to call KC for help. Recently, SeaTurtle.org has been fussy about uploading photos. Sometimes downsizing the photos less than 1MB first will help resolve it but other times, nothing seems to help.

Explanation

When in doubt, just email a photo and the stranding report. (Check the box for No Photos but in the comments section, state you will email them to Sarah.) And always feel free to call KC for help. Recently, SeaTurtle.org has been fussy about uploading photos. Sometimes downsizing the photos less than 1MB first will help resolve it but other times, nothing seems to help.

9. Whose name should be used on the Stranding Report as the Observer if multiple people have responded?

A. The first person on scene.

B. The person who transports the turtle to rehab.

C. Whoever wins the arm-wrestling match.

10. You have taken your turtle to the Back Road Staging Site where a volunteer is going to come to pick up the turtle to transport to STAR. The Staging Site is not manned today (no volunteers prepping turtles for transport), who is responsible for completing the stranding report, making a copy to travel with the turtle, and uploading to seaturtle.org?

The volunteer picking up the turtle will do that.

STAR center staff

Me. I'm awesome and will get it taken care of!

The staging site will be staffed on 'heavy' turtle days. When just a turtle or two come in for the day, volunteers will be called to pick up turtles at the staging site and transport immediately to the STAR center. The person who finds the turtle should complete the stranding report, make a copy, and upload the data to seaturtle.org/STRAND. (You are welcome to do that from the computer at the Staging Site if you want to just get it done for the day and not have to worry about it when you get home.)

Explanation

The staging site will be staffed on 'heavy' turtle days. When just a turtle or two come in for the day, volunteers will be called to pick up turtles at the staging site and transport immediately to the STAR center. The person who finds the turtle should complete the stranding report, make a copy, and upload the data to seaturtle.org/STRAND. (You are welcome to do that from the computer at the Staging Site if you want to just get it done for the day and not have to worry about it when you get home.)

11. Where can you find and print copies of current Stranding Reports (STSSN)?

B. The answer is A (it won't let me have just a single answer to pick from.)

C. The answer is still A, please don't pick this one.

12. What type of tag is seen here? (check all the apply)

Front Flipper Tags

Rear Flipper Tags

Pit Tag

Coded Wire Tag

Living Tag

This green sea turtle has flipper tags on both its front flippers and a living tag on its carapace. (Pit tags and wire tags are internal so would never be able to be seen.)

Explanation

This green sea turtle has flipper tags on both its front flippers and a living tag on its carapace. (Pit tags and wire tags are internal so would never be able to be seen.)

Submit

13. Are you interested in getting additional calls/texts about helping with turtle transport? Sometimes we need turtles picked up from the ferry / from the coast guard station / from the general public and taken to the Staging Site. Sometimes we may have priority turtles or a time crunch and and we will ask if someone can transport turtles part way to Rodanthe to pass along to another volunteer (or all the way to Manteo if you want to, it's a fun way to see what happens on the other end). If yes, please be sure you give your cell phone number in the question below.

Yes

No thank you.

Submit

Hatteras Field Patrol Stranding Response

1. How will I know when we should patrol?

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. Do you remember your https://www.seaturtle.org/strand/ sign in information? (go sign in and make sure you still remember the ID and password)

3. T/F - All stranded turtles need a paper Stranding Report completed and submitted to WRC within 24 hours of response to comply with the conditions of our permit.

4. Cold Stun staging site volunteers will upload your forms into SeaTurtle.org when the staging site is

5. Which of the following Island/Beach under STRANDING LOCATION should NOT be used by cold stun patrols?

6. When transporting cold stun turtles, the heat in the car should be on as high as possible to help it warm up.

8. If you have trouble uploading a scanned paper Stranding Report or photo onto SeaTurtle.org, you can submit them to WRC by:

9. Whose name should be used on the Stranding Report as the Observer if multiple people have responded?

11. Where can you find and print copies of current Stranding Reports (STSSN)?

12. What type of tag is seen here? (check all the apply)

14. First Name, Middle Initial (please don't leave this out, it's important), Last Name

15. Address

16. Cell Phone